hurling

AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year

07 March 2023 - 7:03AM

TJ Reid, Joey Holden, and Richie Reid celebrate after Ballyhale Shamrocks' AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final win. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

The 2022/2023 AIB GAA Hurling Club Team of The Year has been unveiled today, with #TheToughest club hurlers of the season named. This season’s AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Club Championships will undoubtedly go down in the history books, having featured some truly tantalizing matches, where underdogs stood tall and old stalwarts showed us why they so often reign supreme in what was a fantastic season of club hurling.

The nominees for this year’s AIB GAA Club Hurling Player of the Year were also announced, with Joey Holden and Adrian Mullen from this year’s All-Ireland club champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) each nominated for Player of the Year, alongside Stephen O’Keeffe from All-Ireland semi-finalists, Ballygunner (Waterford). The AIB GAA Club Hurling Player of the Year will be unveiled this Friday, March 10th at the AIB GAA Club Player Awards ceremony at Croke Park.

Following their All-Ireland success, Ballyhale Shamrocks dominate the selection on the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year, with the Kilkenny outfit receiving eight nods for selection, after they scooped their ninth AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Club Championship title this season. They overcame the devastation of last year’s final, which saw them lose out at the hands of Ballygunner in a thriller, and marched on this year to overcome Ulster champions, Dunloy in the final. Ballyhale’s Killian Corcoran and Joey Holden have been named in the full back line, with Richie Reid and Darragh Corcoran featuring in the half back line. Adrian Mullen is named at midfield, while Eoin Cody, TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly all feature in the forward line for the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year.

All-Ireland finalists and Ulster champions Dunloy have three players named on the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year following a stellar season that saw them claim the Ulster title once again and reach a fifth All-Ireland final. Ryan McGarry and Kevin Molloy have been named in the Team of the Year back line, while Conal Cunning has been selected at corner forward. Munster champions and All-Ireland semi-finalists, Ballygunner, round out the selection for the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year, with four players named on the team. Stephen O’Keeffe takes the slot between the posts for the Waterford side, while Conor Sheahan joins Ballyhale’s Adrian Mullen at midfield, and Pauric Mahony and Patrick Fitzgerald have been named in the forward line.

Commenting on the Awards, AIB Chief Executive Officer Colin Hunt said: “AIB is proud to once more be joining with the GAA to honour these fantastic players at this year’s AIB GAA Club Player awards, following an incredible season of AIB GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Club Championship action. The awards recognise the incredible feats achieved by club players across Ireland and, on behalf of everyone at AIB, we extend our congratulations to all of the players who have been selected on the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year. The incredible effort and determination to achieve success with your clubs epitomises everything that is special about the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships, and we are extremely proud to be celebrating our 32__nd year of supporting the Club Championships. We would like to congratulate all of the players who have so proudly represented their clubs and communities with skill and determination this season, and look forward to honouring these incredible athletes at our awards ceremony at Croke Park this Friday evening.”

**Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy added: **“The 2022/2023 AIB GAA Club Championships season has been another terrific showcase of our national games. I offer my warmest congratulations to all of the players who have been named on the 2022/2023 AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of the Year. The AIB GAA Club Championships are unique and special competitions, and are the heart of communities. Congratulations to all of the players who have represented their club this year with such pride and honour, and to those who have been named on the Team of the Year. We look forward to welcoming you all to Croke Park this Friday evening to mark your achievements over the past season.”

Full details of the AIB GAA Club Hurling Team of The Year below:

AIB GAA CLUB HURLING TEAM OF THE YEAR

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)

2. Killian Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

4. Ryan McGarry (Dunloy)

5. Kevin Molloy (Dunloy)

6. Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

7. Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

8. Conor Sheahan (Ballygunner)

9. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

10. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)